Ask a garden pro: Tulip troubles

CORPUS CHRISTI - QUESTION: I planted some tulips and hyacinths last year. I haven't seen any sign of them coming up. What is wrong?

ANSWER: Unfortunately, those bulbs are not suited for our area. They need cold weather to rebloom and are therefore better suited for North Texas and other areas with similar climates. You would be better off with narcissus or amaryllis in our area.

Our warm, wet summer also makes tulips, hyacinths, and crocus particularly susceptible to bacterial and fungal rots, so they often disappear after their short bloom cycle down here.